KRISTINA WINDOM NAMED TRAINEE MANAGER AT BALLET WEST ACADEMY
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy announces the appointment of Kristina Windom as Trainee Manager, effective immediately. Windom brings extensive experience as both a distinguished performer and accomplished educator to oversee the Academy's Professional Trainee Division.
A native of Washington, D.C., Windom established her foundation in classical ballet under the tutelage of Mary Day at the Washington School of Ballet. At age 17, she was one of only two U.S. competitors at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Competition. She then embarked on a performing career across both classical and contemporary repertoire, including principal roles with The Washington Ballet, Cleveland/San Jose Ballet, and Alonzo King's Lines Ballet in San Francisco.
Prior to Ballet West, Windom served as Principal of the School of Philadelphia Ballet (2023-2025), overseeing comprehensive training programs and implementing holistic educational methods. She previously dedicated 16 years as both educator and administrator at The Washington Ballet, collaborating with directors and mentors to prepare students for professional opportunities in dance.
Windom's students have achieved professional careers with national and international dance companies and distinguished themselves in competitive dance. She has also coached prize-winning soloists and ensembles in international competitions. Windom holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from George Mason University, where she served on the faculty for 18 years, specializing in the integration of dance within academic curricula.
Her research focuses on innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to dance training, with particular emphasis on neuromuscular performance and biomechanical execution. As a somatic practitioner, she integrates principles of dynamic alignment and injury prevention into her ballet pedagogy. Windom is committed to diversity and inclusion initiatives within ballet, working to enhance accessibility and equity in classical training for all students.
“I am honored to join the Ballet West community,” says Windom, “and look forward to collaborating in the pursuit of artistic excellence and professional aspirations.”
Windom assumes the Trainee Manager role following James Payne's departure to become Director at the School of Ballet Arizona.
For more information about Ballet West Academy, please visit balletwest.org.
PRESS INQUIRIES
Dana Rimington, Director of Communications and Publications
drimington@balletwest.org | 801-869-6918
ABOUT BALLET WEST
BALLET WEST, one of America’s leading ballet companies, under the artistic direction of Adam Sklute, has earned an international reputation for artistic innovation and excellence since its founding in 1963. For over 60 years, the Salt Lake City-based Company has entertained and excited audiences in Utah and worldwide by presenting great classical ballets, historical masterpieces, including America’s First Nutcracker, and new cutting-edge creations with only the highest artistic and professional standards. The Company continues to build future ballet artists and audiences by providing classical ballet training through the Frederick Q. Lawson Ballet West Academy and its four campuses and more than 1,000 students. Ballet West also operates the largest outreach and education programs in the country which reaches over 148,000 children and adults throughout Utah and the Intermountain Region every year. The 24/25 Season is generously sponsored by Salt Lake Zoo, Arts & Parks, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and Intermountain Health.
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